Rajasthan Bar Council (BCR) Election 2026: Revised schedule announced; voting on April 22, counting on April 29

Jodhpur: The High Power Committee of the Bar Council of Rajasthan has announced the revised and final schedule for the 2026 Bar Council elections, setting April 22, 2026 as the date for voting and April 29, 2026 for counting of votes.

The notification has been issued in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order dated November 18, 2025. With the schedule now formalised, election-related activity has picked up across the state’s legal fraternity.

Polling will take place on April 22, 2026, between 10 am and 5 pm. Collection of ballot boxes will continue from April 22 to April 28, and counting will be conducted on April 29. Results will be declared immediately after completion of counting.

According to the schedule, the formal election notification will be published on February 20, 2026. A provisional voters’ list will be released on March 7, 2026. Objections to the voters’ list may be submitted between March 8 and March 14. After disposal of objections, the final voters’ list will be published on March 21, 2026.

The nomination process will run from March 22 to March 28, 2026. Nomination papers may be submitted between 10 am and 5 pm either in person or through registered post or speed post. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on March 29 and 30. A preliminary list of candidates will be issued on March 31.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 2, 2026, up to 5 pm. The final list of contesting candidates will be published after 5 pm on the same day.

The Bar Council of Rajasthan has 25 seats in total. Of these, 23 members will be elected directly, while two members will be co-opted.

The notification specifies that at least 12 of the 25 seats must be filled by advocates who have been enrolled on the State Roll for a minimum of 10 years. In addition, a minimum of five seats have been earmarked for women advocates. However, no separate ballot will be issued for women candidates. The provision has been framed in accordance with recent directions of the Supreme Court.

Nomination forms will be available at the Bar Council office in Jodhpur on payment of Rs. 5,000. Each candidate may obtain up to four nomination forms.

Every nomination must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of Rs. 1,25,000, payable through bank draft, banker’s cheque or online transfer in favour of the Bar Council of Rajasthan. For advocates in the specially-abled category, the non-refundable fee has been fixed at Rs. 15,000, in terms of the Supreme Court’s order dated January 5, 2026.

The Bar Council has been directed to publish the election notification in the official gazette and in at least two newspapers. It will also be displayed on the Council’s official website and notice board to ensure wide dissemination among advocates across the state.

With the schedule now in place, preparations have begun at the Bar Council headquarters in Jodhpur. Advocates from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Bikaner and other districts have started mobilising support as the election process formally gets underway.

The 2026 election will determine 23 elected representatives to the state’s apex statutory body governing advocates.